Parent-Child Education Classes

Learn more about our Parent-Child Education Classes here or download a copy of our brochure.

Pregnancy & Parenting Classes

Count on the experienced nurses, midwives and physicians at Mount Auburn Hospital to provide the support and knowledge you need throughout pregnancy and early parenthood. Search our calendar listings to find a class, event or support group to fit your growing family’s needs.

To get the most benefit from prenatal classes, register during your fourth or fifth month of pregnancy for classes scheduled during your seventh or eighth month.

Having Your Baby Your Way Series

Knowledge is power. This three-week course will give you the knowledge you want to approach labor with confidence. It will give you the information you need to partner with your physician or midwife so that, together, you can make the choices that are right for you and your baby.

Topics include an overview of normal labor and birth, what happens if labor doesn’t go quite as planned, available interventions, medications, anesthesia, cesarean birth, and the immediate newborn and early postpartum period. You’ll be introduced to relaxation, breathing, positioning, and pushing techniques. And you’ll have time to get your questions answered. This class includes a tour of the Bain Birthing Center.

This series meets weekly for three weeks; each class lasts three hours.Cost: $180 per couple

HypnoBirthing®—The Mongan Method

Learn mind-body relaxation techniques to help you achieve a calm, safe and gentle birth free of unnecessary interventions.You’ll learn:

This series meets weekly for five weeks; each class lasts two-and-half hours.Cost: $235 per couple

Infant CPR for Family and Friends

This two-hour class will provide parents and caregivers of infants with the tools to be prepared for emergency situations, including those that may require the use of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The class is taught by a certified CPR instructor in accordance with American Heart Association guidelines.

Natural Childbirth

This one-day course is designed for expectant parents who want to learn coping skills for labor that will help them avoid or minimize the use of medication. You’ll discover ways to break the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle in order to allow the body to work as nature intended.In this interactive class, you’ll learn about and practice:

Positioning and movement that increase comfort for mother and encourage baby to pass more easily through her pelvis

The use of labor massage and pressure techniques

Breathing techniques drawn from yogic, Bradley®, and Lamaze® practice

Coping mechanisms such as visualization, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy to reduce stress and help the uterus work more efficiently

You’ll learn about the stages of labor, postpartum changes, and what to expect from your newborn in the first hours and days of life. Your instructor will also review interventions available to you, should they become medically necessary, such as cesarean birth, induction of labor, and medication options.

Prepared Childbirth

Approach labor and delivery with confidence by learning what to expect during childbirth in this one-day class Mount Auburn Hospital. You’ll get the information you and your partner need to make the choices that are right for your family.Learn about:

Sibling Class

The arrival of a new brother or sister can be both exciting and confusing for little children. Help your child (2 years & 9 months or older) prepare for his or her new role as a big brother or sister. In this parent-child class you will learn ways to help your child to adjust to the new arrival, and your child will have the opportunity to practice baby care. A guided tour of our maternity unit is included.

Cost: $35 for two children accompanied up to two adults

Tools for a Natural Childbirth: a hands-on workshop

If you're looking forward to a natural childbirth, you'll want a "labor kit" full of tools and techniques that can help you achieve that goal. You'll also want guidance in how to use those techniques in various situations that might arise in labor. And you'll want to practice them in an unhurried setting. This three-hour workshop is taught by experienced educators who have coached countless women through successful labors and births without the use of medication.

This workshop is complementary to, but does not replace, a full-length childbirth class. We recommend that first-time parents take Prepared Childbirth, Natural Childbirth, or Having Your Baby Your Way before taking Tools for a Natural Childbirth since this hands-on mini-course will not cover the same material. This class is, however, appropriate for experienced parents who would like a refresher in natural childbirth techniques.Workshop content includes:

Encouraging optimal fetal positioning for labor and birth

Use of props such as the birthing ball and the peanut

Use of the Rebozo - a large traditional scarf - in labor

Breath work and mindfulness practices

Nourishment during labor

Vocalization

Counter-pressure and acupressure

Support techniques for the labor partner

Essential oils and homeopathic remedies

This class typically meets on a Saturday or Sunday at the Center for Women on the first floor of the hospital.

Boot Camp for New Dads® (aka Daddy Boot Camp®) is a unique father-to-father, community-based workshop that inspires and equips men to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates, and personally navigate their transformation into dads. It provides a space for men to explore not only the challenges of fatherhood but also the special gifts they bring to parenting. Boot Camp is validated by research and has been named a best practice by many organizations. It is considered it an exceptional means of supporting dads-to-be and fostering behaviors that greatly benefit children, families, and society. Founded in 1990, the nonprofit Boot Camp for New Dads® has graduated more than 325,000 men, making it by far the nation’s largest program for new fathers. It is now offered in 44 states in hospitals, community centers, and on U.S. military bases. Boot Camps are also offered in Canada and the U.K.We strongly encourage dads-to-be to attend Boot Camp as “rookies” before the birth of their babies. After your baby arrives and before he or she is six months old, you’re invited to return as a “veteran” dad with your baby. Veterans may choose to return to Boot Camp more than once. Sharing your real world experience as a veteran father with a group of rookie dads is at the heart of Boot Camp for New Dads®. Your one-time registration fee covers your attendance at Boot Camp as a rookie and a veteran as well as the book Crash Course for Dads-To-Be by Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads®.This group meets for three hours on either a Saturday or Sunday morning, one or more times per month.

Cost: $90 per dad

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations are accepted up to one day prior to the first class for a refund, minus a $35 processing charge.